Process for production of permanent effects in cotton fabrics



Patented Dec. 19, 1922.

UNITED STATES 1,439,520 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGES HEB ERLEIN, OF WATTWIL, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HEBERLEIN PATENT CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.. A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF PERMANENT EFFECTS IN COTTON FABRICS.

No Drawing. Application filed September 1, 1921, Serial No. 497,740. Renewed November 15, 1922.

Serial No. 601,038.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1921, 41 STAT. L, 1313.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Guineas I-IEnEnm-nN, a citizen of the Swiss Republic, and a resident of \Vattwil, Canton of St. Gall, Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for Production of Permanent Effects in Cotton Fabrics (which improvements are described in the following filed applications, i.e., German application Ser. No. 65,355, filed Feb. 13, 1914, patent of addition #292,213. c ranted May 26, 1916; German application Ser. No. H. 68,470, filed May 19, 1915, lat ent #295,816, granted Dec. 18, 1916; French application Ser. No. 83,050, filed Apr. 21, 1916, Patent #481,561, granted Sept. 23, 1916 British application Ser. No. 6,218 of 1916, filed May 1, 1916, Patent #100,483, granted as of May 19, 1915; Belgian application Ser.No. 225,208, filed June 24, 1919, Patent #280,937, granted (not yet issued) Italian application Ser. No. (have none), filed May 4 1916, Patent #154,095, granted June 5, 1916; Austrian application Ser. No. (have none), filed Apr. 29, 1916, Patent #511,367, granted Sept. 25 1920), of which the following, is a specification.

My invention relates to a process of treating cotton fabricto produce wool-like effects.

In my United States PatentNo. 1,141,872, granted June 1, 1915. I have described and claimed a process of treating cotton fabric to produce permanent wool-like effects, by first mercerizing the fabric and then treating it with concentrated sulphuric acid of less than 51 Be. It was described in that patent specification that if cotton fabric which hasbeen mercerized and also preferably bleached, be subjected to the action of sulphuric acid of from 49 to somewhat under 51 B. the best "action being obtained between 49% eg. and 50% deg. B.), the mercerizing lustre disappears, and instead of the transparency obtained with the higher concentration of sulphuric acid, the fabric assumes a fine light crapedike nature, whereby it appears fuller, more wool-like, softer, andds generally improved and it has imparted m it somewhat the character of fine woolen stufl', suchfor example as fine thin wool muslin.

. It was also pointed out in that patent that the treatment could be utilized in the method described for productlng pattern effects. It was pointed out that attern effects could be produced on plain falirics by printin on mercerized fabrics with sulphuric aci of say 50 Be. and washing out after action has taken place; or that a suitable resist such as gum thickening could be impressed on portions of the fabric in such a way as to protect the parts not to be acted upon by the acid, and then the entire fabric dipped into sulphuric acid of the aforesaid concentration, and subsequently Washing the fabric.

I have also discovered that the Wool-like quality of the fabric mentioned in said Patent No. 1,141,872 is also obtained if the cotton fabric is first treated with the sulphuric acid of from 49 to 51 B., then washed. and without stretching, mercerizing the fabric with caustic alkali such as caustic soda. The latter process forms the subject matter of my co-pending application Serial Nllllllber 497,738 filed on even date herewith.

The latter process is distinguished from that described in the aforesaid patent, in that the said wool effect is obtained according to the process of the aforesaid patent, regardless of whether the mercerizing is carried out with or without stretching, whereas in said latter process Where the mercerizing is carried out after the acid treatment, the proper wool-like efi'ect takes place only when the mercerizing is done without stretching.

I have further discovered that the said wool-like effect is attained if in carrying outthe above described processes, the treatment with sulphuric acid is re laced by a treatment with phosphoric aci of 55 to 57 B., or with hydrochloric acid of the specific gravity of 1.19 at low temperature (as for example below 0 (1.) or with nitric. acid of 43 to 46 B., or with zinc chloride solution of 66 B., at 60 to 70 C. ,or with Schweizers solution, with a short reaction eriod.

In this application for Letters atent I aim to cover the above described processes wherein hydrochloric acid is utilized in con junction with the mercerizin process instead of the sulphuric acid. he remainder of the improvements herein described are covered by other of my co-pending applications and patents.

treatment, and

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that when the cotton fibres are treated as herein stated, the fibres are che1nically structurally changed by each treatment, and it is a characteristic of fabrics treated according to my process, that the fibres are chemically structurally changed, and that the changed or altered condition of the fibres is permanent, i. e., will withstand repeated laundering so that the goods may be laundered without eliminating or materially altering the characteristics of the fabric above described, and this greatly enhances their value.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Method of treating cotton fabric to produce a fabric in which the fibres have been chemically structurally altered to give to the fabric a different and pleasing appearance which is permanent which method comprises subjecting the fabric to two chemical treatments, one a mercerizing the other a treatment with hydrochloric acid to difl'erently structurally change the fibres, the fabric being subjected to one of said treatments after the other, and after the acidtreatment washing the fabric,

2. Method of treating cotton fabric to roduce a fabric in WlllOll the fibres have een chemically structurally altered to give to the fabrica different and pleasing appearance which is permanent, which method comprises subjecting the fabric to two chemical treatments, one a treatment with caustic soda which will chemically structurally change the fibres, and the other a treatment with hydrochloric acid of the specific gravity of 1.19 at low temperature.

3. Method of treating cotton fabric to chemically structurally change the fabric so as to produce a wool-like effect, which method comprises subjecting the fabric to two chemical treatments, one a merrerizing treatment, and the other a treatment with hydrochloric acid at low temperature, and after the acid treatment washing the fabric.

4. Method of treating cotton fabric to chemically structurally change the fabric so as to produce the described wool-like effect, which method comprises subjecting the fabric first to a mercerizing treatment, and thereafter to a treatment with hydrochloric acid at low temperature, and then washing the fabric.

5. Method of treating cotton fabric to chemically structurally change the fabric so as to produce the described wool-like effect. which method comprises subjecting the fab ric first to a mercerizing treatment with caustic soda, and thereafter subjecting it to a treatment with hydrochloric acid of specific gravity of L19 at low temperature, and then washing the fabric.

6. Method of treatin cotton fabric to chemically structurally c iange the fabric so as to produce a wool-like effect, which method comprises subjecting the fabric to two chemical treatments, one a treatment with caustic alkali, and the other a treatment with hydrochloric acid which, in con- 'junction with the alkali treatment. will produce the said wool-like effect,

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this s ecification.

(fEQRGES HEBERLEIN.

n is hereby certified that. in Letters Patent No. 20, Fnmted nmmbr' 1951922, upon the application of Georges Heberlein, of attwi Switzerland, for

improvement in Processes for Production of Permfinent. Effects in Cotton Fabrics, an error appears in the rintqd specification requiring correction as follows: Page 1, lines 28 and 29, stri 0 out the words probes'of treating cotton fabric to produce wool-like cfl'ects andinsert instead process for production of penmment efects in cotton fabrim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this qorrection therein that the same may cbnform to thg'record of the case in tha Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 3d day of Apri}, A. 'D., 1923.

m KARL F m G,

' Acting of Patmta. 

